Best Middle Schools in Phoenix, AZ (2025-26)
Every ranked middle school in Phoenix, AZ, ordered by SchoolGrade. A grade rewards actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact. Click a column heading to sort, or filter by school, city or district.
Phoenix, AZ rankings: High Schools · Middle Schools · Elementary Schools
Phoenix, AZ middle schools ranked
How Phoenix, AZ's middle schools compare
A: 6B: 6C: 5D: 9F: 4
40% of the 30 ranked middle schools in Phoenix, AZ earn an A or B (6 A grades, 6 B, 5 C, 9 D, 4 F), against 46% of middle schools nationwide. 20 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (67% here, 70% nationally), and 7 exceed it. On average 27% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 26% (national averages: 45% actual, 38% projected).
The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: Marc T Atkinson Middle School And Gifted Academy (49% against 16%, A-), Maricopa Institute Of Technology Mit (54% against 28%, A), Royal Palm Middle School (29% against 16%, B-), Vista College Prep Sueno Park (21% against 10%, C).
Districts with the most schools in the top quarter (the top 10): Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) (3), Madison Elementary District (4270) (2).
The largest ranked middle schools: Madison 1 Elementary School (913 students, B, #8), Palo Verde Middle School (870 students, D+, #18), Estrella Middle School (810 students, D-, #24).
Of the top 25, 0 are magnet schools and 4 are charters. Selective and specialised schools tend to post high actual scores; the projection column is the fairer comparison for a neighborhood school.
Middle schools in Phoenix, AZ that are not ranked
3 graded middle schools are listed here rather than ranked, each for the reason given. Every one has its own page with its full SchoolGrade report.
Special-purpose schools (2)
Alternative, special-education and vocational schools serve a different mission and a different student body, so they are graded but not ranked against regular schools.
- D South Pointe Junior High School, Phoenix
- D+ South Valley Prep And Arts School, Phoenix
Not yet graded (1)
Our source data has no school-level proficiency results for these schools, so they carry no SchoolGrade yet.
- Vista Verde Middle School, Phoenix
About this ranking
- Scope: public middle schools in Phoenix, AZ, as grouped on its schools page; the Arizona ranking covers the whole state.
- Order: SchoolGrade, then actual proficiency, then name; schools with the same grade and score share a rank.
- Ranked: regular public schools that NCES lists as open, not fully online, with at least 30 students. Others are listed with the reason.
- Tags: Magnet and Charter from the NCES school directory; K-12 marks schools serving every grade that are ranked with the middle schools.
- Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model. How SchoolGrade works
Questions about middle schools in Phoenix, AZ
What is the best middle school in Phoenix, AZ?
Explorer Middle School in Phoenix ranks first among the 30 ranked middle schools in Phoenix, AZ with a SchoolGrade of A+, 55% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 64%.
How are middle schools in Phoenix, AZ ranked?
By SchoolGrade, the 2025-26 model that scores each school's actual test proficiency against the level projected for its student context, then by actual proficiency to break ties. Regular public schools that are open, not fully online and have at least 30 students are ranked; the rest are listed below the table with the reason.
How many middle schools does Phoenix, AZ have?
SchoolGrade grades 33 public middle schools in Phoenix, AZ; 30 are ranked here and 3 are listed as not ranked.